Leaving the Murk

Kross had kept to the trees, being forced further into the swamp than he was comfortable with, but being alone, he could use his bending, and weapons and anything else he needed, no need to act the coward. He sighed and his passive face turned to a serious expression. What was he doing here, He wasn't really sure, He kept thinking of the bounty, taking out the rolls of paper in his bag to look at them. Kako, fire nation spymaster and one hell of a bounty, he tried to get excited about it but then he thought of Mieko, What would she think of him once he launched his plan into action, why should he even care? His head started to hurt, thoughts running though it unable to stop. He sat and calmed, one by one turning everything in his head off, going though the process of elimination in his mind to mimic meditation. Even with all the sounds of this swamp, the life happening around him, it was peaceful and then he heard something a little too human, though couldn't be sure if it was.

"Another Spirit?" He asked himself quietly, Dropping down towards the tree bases, landing silently and softly, he drew the fog around himself and started to head towards this oh so strange noise. It wasn't long until Kross came across it and was surprised to see a man in a boat in the middle of the swamp. "People actually live here?" he mumbled to himself. Observing for a few moments more, this man didn't seem like a threat, and being local, he may know a thing or two about how to deal with evil spirits. Kross neatened himself up, checked his bracers and headband out of habit, put on a smile, began to edge one hand into his bag then cleared his throat.

"Er, hello there, you wouldn't be able to help me would you, I seem to have gotten a little lost." he said, waving with his other hand to try and be more visible. He was in his Earth Nation gear, greens and yellows with hard lines, his tattoos covered, his black hair hanging naturally over a headband Green eyes made dark by the low light.

Kross took a few inhuman skips to keep his boots from touching mud and water, continuing to use the rocks and tree roots. to get closer. He had no idea what the person was saying, well, almost no idea, he could pick out a few words if he really tried. He paused for a moment to think about his friend Garrick, wondering if he would be able to understand this strange talking man. Maybe it was some kind of code and he just had to work it out, like a puzzle, Kross smiled at this thought, he loved puzzles, anything that required him to work things out. He watched the mans gestures then tried to translate what it was he said. "Come here and sit down." he muttered to himself. There were a few things that he didn't get but it would come to him in time.

The next problem to solve was the boat, it wasn't exactly within reach, did the man expect him to just wade through that filthy water? He may be used to it but Kross would rather not, He stared at the boat and then down at the murk, judging the distance. He looked around to check that no one was around to watch him other than the man, then took one final leap with his air bending, easily making the gap, and landing so softly on the boat that it hardly even shifted as he did.

"Er, thank you for stopping to speak to me." He tried uncertain. Would he even be understood if he spoke normally. If the man had never heard someone speak properly he may have just as much trouble understanding as Kross did. "I am Kross, I came from Gaoling Heading to Omashu I was attacked by a Spirit." He added, emphasizing the words he thought was important in the hope that, like him, the man would be able to pick out the general idea of the sentence. Pointing in the general direction of the places as he named them, punching an open palm when indicating an attack, and trying... very badly to make himself look like a spiritual blob.

Kross still had a raised eyebrow at every word but he was starting to piece everything together and make sense of what this strange person was saying, He felt a bit bad when he was told that there was no need to speak in such a strange way, as if he may have insulted this native, but he seemed pleasant enough, offering his hand. Kross looked at the hand with a little concern, it wasn't clean and it bothered him slightly but he didn't want to be rude anymore and grasped the mans forarm instead of hand. "Its a pleasure to meet you Kusu, I am Kross and yes, I'm an air bender, Though would prefer it if you didn't go announcing it to the world." he said while releasing the mans arms and adjusting his wrist and head bands. "Many of us don't leave the temples... I never really fit into that way of life."

As he offered to take him out of the swamp, Kross was about to decline his offer when he felt the boat turn and quickly sat down as to not tip over the side, He did not like boats too much, especially the small ones. "Well, you see, that's very kind of you but, I got separated from my group. I can't.... or at least, don't want to just leave without them. I had hoped that I would be able to find some way of dealing with the spirit." he said, looking at the man and all around, missing the streets and buildings of Ba Sing Se, the order and simplicity of it all.